Venus Zine

Venus Zine, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois,^[3] was founded in East Lansing, Michigan, in the Michigan State University dorm room of Amy Schroeder in 1995.^[4] It began as a photocopied, black and white, stapled fanzine but over the years grew into a full-size glossy publication. In 2006, it was bought by two magazine publishers, Anne Hartnett and Marci Sepulveda, who also publish Chicago Agent magazine.^[5][6] The magazine covered music, fashion, and culture. The readership is both male and female, but most articles are written by women.^[7]

In April 2010, the magazine was relaunched under new ownership of Sarah Beardsley who acquired the publication in February.^[1] In December 2010, the publication ended its print run and laid off all staff members.^[2]

In response to a 2003 article by Rolling Stone titled "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time", which included only two female guitarists,^[8] Venus Zine published their own "Greatest Female Guitarists Of All Time" list. Put together through nominations by experts Abigail Aronson Zocher, Kenneth Bays, Calvin Johnson, Evelyn McDonnell, Amy Phillips, Jaan Uhelszki, and Nan Warshaw, the list features the 46 women deemed worthy of being called the greatest including: Joan Jett, Odetta, Carrie Brownstein, Memphis Minnie and Chrissie Hynde.

The list has been mentioned and discussed by such web publications as Chicagoist^[9] and Gaper's Block.^[10]

• In 2007, Venus Zine was named one of the Chicago Tribune's "50 Favorite Magazines."^[11]

• Venus Zine Official Site (defunct)